An Unusual Story BUT TRUE by Chuck Sweeney

Recently I flew to the Midwest to conduct two Oral History interviews for the Distinguished Flying Cross Society (DFCS). The fact that a retired Tailhooker flew to Kansas City and then drove to an Army base (Fort Leavenworth) to interview two Air Force pilots is a little unusual but that is not the point of the story.

About two years ago I convinced Major Kim “Killer Chick” Campbell USAF to join the DFC Society as our first female pilot member who was awarded a DFC in combat. Since then I have been trying to figure how to conduct a interview with her for our Oral History Program but wasn’t successful because of schedules, workload etc. I finally was able to turn that around after I learned that she was attending the Army’s Command and General Staff College. Kim was awarded her DFC for a harrowing mission flying the A-10 Warthog in Iraq on April 7, 2003 and there was a lot of press when the event happened.

I also wanted to interview another A-10 pilot who was awarded three DFCs in Afghanistan during Operation Anaconda in March 2002. I thought my being awarded three DFCs in one week was a little unusual but being awarded three in four days is simply amazing. The second pilot is Major Scott “Soup” Campbell. Yes he does have the same last name as Kim because they are husband and wife. Kim and Scott met at the Air Force Academy, they were married while Kim was going through flight training, both flew the A-10 and now have a beautiful baby boy named Colin Reed Campbell. I was mesmerized while listening to both Kim and Scott described the events that led to their DFCs and feel extremely lucky to have met them.

Well, the unusual part of the story is having a husband and wife each being awarded DFCs for heroism in combat while flying the same aircraft type but I am asking the help of Tailhookers to determine if this is truly unique. We feel pretty confident that they are the only married couple flying US Air Force fighters that have each been awarded a DFC. In order to make this a truly unique story we need to find out if any other married couple in any of the services have both been awarded a DFC for combat.

This has also opened up a couple of other interesting questions concerning families with multiple DFC recipients. I know there are several father/son recipients and I also read of one father/daughter (USAF) and I’m sure there are probably brothers with DFCs but what about brother/sister or sister/sister? If anyone can answer these questions with some details, the DFCS would appreciate hearing about it so that we can make contact and write a story about them. Please email Chuck Sweeney at dfcs@dfcsociety.org or reply through the DFCS website at www.dfcsociety.org if you have any answers.

DFC National Memorial March AFB Museum

Force Assodation
1501 Lee Highway, Arlington, Virginia 22209-1 198 (703) 247-5800 www.afa.org
An Independent Nonprofit Aerospace Organization
Michael M. Dunn
PresidentlCEO
July 30,2009
The Honorable Ken Calvert
22201 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 205 1 0
Dear Congressman Calvert,
The Air Force Association is writing to express support for H.R. 2788, a bill to designate
a Distinguished Flying Cross National Memorial at March Air Force Base Museum in
Riverside, California. Ever since Congress created the Distinguished Flying Cross 80
years ago, the award has played a pivotal role in recognizing the heroism displayed in the
sky by our men and women in uniform. It is the Air Force Association's firm belief that
the nearly 200,000 recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross deserve a national
memorial to honor their example of excellence and dedication to duty.
Sincerely,
Michael M. Dunn

Seeking Nominations for DFCS Director Positions

NOMINATIONS FOR BOARD OF DIRECTOR’S ELECTION
This notice is to inform you that your Distinguished Flying Cross Society will be holding our election for Directors at the Annual Membership Meeting in October, 2009. We have two Directors, Reed Phillips, and Bob Krone who is currently serving as our Secretary are up for reelection. In addition we have two open seats on the board to be filled. I have been appointed as the Chair of the Nominating Committee. In addition to informing you of the upcoming election I would like to know if there are any members who would like to serve the Society as a Director. What we would like to see are members with legal, accounting, fund raising, public relations or other professional backgrounds, or any who feel they can contribute to the growth and professionalism of your Society. I am requesting that a member who wishes to be a nominee submit a brief one page biography, outlining military and civilian experience and the reasons why you wish to serve your society. I would prefer submission via e-mail and/or as a Microsoft WORD file. Please send to me